Online Course by Paul Talbot-Greaves
"Looser Landscapes in Watercolor. From Structure to Freedom"
Discover Paul Talbot-Greaves’ proven layering and value-based method to create expressive, loose landscapes in watercolor. Learn to simplify references, block shapes, paint with confidence – and create 4 loose landscapes even if you’ve been stuck in rigid, over-detailed work for years
4 paintings. 8 video lessons. Lifetime access.
Subtitles in 6 languages.
At a Glance
At a Glance
What if your watercolors could breathe – loose, fresh, and full of atmosphere – without the weight of rigid outlines or overworked details? At this course, award-winning artist Paul Talbot-Greaves shows you how to swap stiffness for spontaneity, turning ordinary scenes into expressive landscapes alive with light and movement.
You’ll discover how to simplify busy references, build depth with Paul’s signature layering system, and add finishing touches that make your work sing without ever tipping into overwork.
Step by step, Paul will guide you from cautious, careful painting into a freer, more confident style – where landscapes unfold naturally, and your brushstrokes finally feel alive. By the end of the journey, you won’t just have 4 beautiful finished paintings – you’ll have the tools, confidence, and vision to approach any landscape with freedom and joy.
Is this right for you?
5 problems this course was built to solve
You reproduce the reference line by line. The result looks like a photo, not a painting. You want to interpret the scene but don't know how.
You mix pigments, but the result turns dull or disharmonious. You need a reliable system for clean, vibrant color.
You use every tube you own. The painting loses harmony. This course shows how fewer colors bring stronger results.
Too many elements, no focal point, no hierarchy. You want to know what to keep, what to leave out, and where to lead the eye.
Buildings, trees, or objects sit in wrong spatial relationships. Something looks wrong, and you can't figure out why.
“I try not to paint the landscape as you might perceive it… I draw to the viewer's attention designs and shapes and shadows that make it exciting.”
Course program
Lesson – References Overview
See the references you will use in this course and learn how to select and prepare references that inspire rather than overwhelm. Discover which photos and scenes work best for developing loose, expressive landscapes, and how to break them down into essential shapes and values to guide your painting confidently.
Lesson – Materials Overview
Get to know the tools that will bring your watercolors to life. Explore brushes, papers, and pigments, and learn how to use them effectively for layering, texture, and atmosphere. Gain practical tips to maximize the potential of your materials from the very first stroke.
Lesson 1. Paint Looser Landscapes: Preliminary Structure
Learn how to loosen your drawing and avoid rigid outlines, using sketchbook exercises and playful brush marks like dots, dashes, and calligraphy. Discover how to treat drawing as a flexible guide, not a trap, and gain confidence in sketching and brush handling to set the stage for expressive landscapes.
2 video lessons, 1 h 17 min
Lesson 2. Paint Looser Landscapes: Working from Reference
Master techniques for simplifying photos and references, from printing on cheap paper to keeping them at arm’s length. Learn how to avoid over-absorbing detail, focus on essentials, and use wet-into-wet and wet-against-wet methods to hint at forms, keeping your paintings fresh and alive.
2 video lessons, 1 h 41 min
Lesson 3. Paint Looser Landscapes: Shift Your Focus
Explore Paul’s signature layering system, building a painting in three value-based stages from light to dark. Learn to see landscapes as blocks of shapes and values rather than isolated objects, letting the composition and atmosphere guide your painting naturally.
2 video lessons, 1 h 16 min
Lesson 4. Paint Looser Landscapes: Final Touches and Detail
Discover how to add dynamics with directional brushstrokes, glazes, and finishing accents. Practice texturing techniques such as spatter, dry brush, and selective line work, and learn to use gouache for highlights and depth without sacrificing watercolor harmony, finishing your paintings with confidence and freshness.
2 video lessons, 53 min
Three paintings at the end — but they're the proof, not the point. What you keep is the way of working.
lesson sample
THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL PAINT
Meet Paul Talbot-Greaves
- UK-based professional watercolorist with over 25 years of teaching and painting experience.
- Member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours (RI).
- Award-winning exhibitor at leading shows including the Patchings Art Festival.
- Author of several instructional books and contributor to The Artist magazine.
- Known for his distinctive approach that transforms ordinary scenes into striking, expressive landscapes.
- Celebrated for his clear, patient teaching style that helps artists gain confidence and loosen up.
What results you will achieve at the course:
Learn how to simplify complex references into clear blocks, values, and essential shapes
Build landscapes in confident, layered stages that add depth and atmosphere without overworking
Gain freedom in drawing and brushwork, replacing rigid outlines with expressive mark.
Understand how to control water and pigment balance for fresh, luminous washes
Master texturing and finishing techniques that enrich a painting without losing looseness
Develop the confidence to paint landscapes that are uniquely yours – expressive, free, and full of life
Support and feedback
Join our international and artistic community
- Connect with like-minded artists, share advice and feedback.
- Join daily discussions on drawings and art-related topics.
- Enjoy a welcoming space moderated by our Community Manager and Support Team.
CHOOSE YOUR PLAN
Plan
Standard
- 8 video lessons (total 5h)
- 4 final scenes in unique author's technique
- 24/7 access from any location at your own pace
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- Access to the moderated students community on WhatsApp
- Final project (your own painting)
Bonus
- 30 ArtiCoins
Plan
Standard
- 8 video lessons (total 5h)
- 4 final scenes in unique author's technique
- 24/7 access from any location at your own pace
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- Access to the moderated students community on WhatsApp
- Final project (your own painting)
Bonus
- 30 ArtiCoins
Risk-Free Learning. We Care About You.
100% guarantee
If after 1 to 2 lessons within the first week this approach is not for you, you get your money back. Within 14 days after payment.
Any level, same method
Whether you’re new to watercolor or have been painting landscapes for years, this technique will help you paint with more freedom. You don’t need perfect drawing skills or a loose style already – you just need a willingness to see the landscape differently.
Freedom & Mobility
Access any time. Go at your pace. Smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Materials for the COURSE
Watercolor Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour
Gouache Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache: Permanent White
Watercolor Schmincke Horadam: Ivory Black (Elfenbeinschwarz)
Brushes
Palette: Folding Holbein palette
Other materials:
Water cup – with a serrated edge, used as a brush rest
Spray bottle – for keeping the paper moist or creating effects
Still have questions?
Our team is here to help. Not sure which plan is right for you? Just reach out — we'll guide you in a few minutes.
Contact usFAQ
CLOSING
You look at a landscape and think: I want to paint that.
Then you try to capture every tree, every shadow, every little detail – and the more carefully you paint, the less alive it feels.
Start with structure. Simplify what you see. Build light to dark, layer by layer, and let your brushstrokes breathe.